Cunninghams Funeral Directors
Available 24/7

Death Notices

Available 24/7 +353 1 820 2266

Costs

Arranging a funeral can be a trying experience for relatives and friends of the deceased. All the more so when it comes to making decisions about the funeral details themselves, and the costs involved.

Help with Funeral Costs

The Bereavement Grant was a once-off payment to help with funeral costs. Eligibility for this grant was not related to your ability to pay for the funeral. Eligibility was usually based on PRSI contributions.

The Bereavement Grant has been discontinued since 2014. However, depending on your circumstances, you may be eligible for and Exceptional Need Payment under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance Scheme.  This assistance may be paid to help you with the cost of a funeral if your income is low. Each case is decided on its merits by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection's representative (formerly known as the Community Welfare Officer) at your local office. One of our highly qualified members of staff can assist you with your query.

Charges by Funeral Director

These costs relate to the services and materials provided by Funeral Directors themselves and include for example, costs of the coffin, professional fees, administrative fee, hearse, limousine, habit/shroud, and embalming.  Our Coffins range from €900 to €6000, our Professional fees range from €400 to €1000, Hearse fee from €600 to €2000 and embalming / dressing from €350 to €850.

Cremation versus Burial Costs

Many people believe that cremation is a less expensive option than burial which is not necessarily true. The significant cost associated with burial surrounds the purchase of a new grave if the family does not already have an existing plot. Depending on the location, the cost of a new plot can vary significantly as well as the costs associated with the opening of a grave. In comparison, cremations involve a one-off cost and do not require the more expensive aspect of purchasing a plot.   Cremation fees range from €590 to €800 depending on services and Urns.  Graves in Dublin start from about €2300 and are typically around €2800 including opening fee, in Kildare graves start at €1375 and Meath graves start at approximately €1000.  However, some cemeteries can be considerably higher.

Third Party Payments

These usually referred to as disbursements and are payments to third parties and include things like grave purchase, grave opening, cremation charges, churches, newspaper notices, flowers, organist, soloist and catering. These are costs which are incurred as part of the agreed funeral arrangements and which the Funeral Director pays on behalf of the client family. These costs are then included in the final bill.